Number of views:

From Pastor Perry

09/30/2017 Matt 18:21-35

Matthew 18:21–35 (ESV)

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say
to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When
he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So
the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But
when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded
with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place,
they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded
with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.
35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

We often
draw the line at forgiving someone only three times, but Peter takes it to seven times. Let me ask you a question. How many times do you want the Lord to forgive you? Do you want him to stop at three? Seven times?... or infinity.
The Lord keeps forgiving us over and over and over. It seems we never tire of sinning and he never quits forgiving. The debt of ten thousand talents is far greater than any one individual could ever pay back… in fact, this was worth about
150,000 years of wages. You can see that Jesus uses a ridiculously large amount that no one could pay back. Jesus forgives infinitely.

I pray: O
Lord, I know that at times I can be unforgiving. I repent and want to do better. Help me to not set limits on forgiveness, but to let me forgive abundantly. Amen.